Live & let live, release water to Tamil Nadu, SC tells Karnataka

The Supreme Court on Friday directed Karnataka to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, telling the Siddaramaiah government to "live and let live", but allowed the state to "inform the court on Monday" how much water it could release. Tamil Nadu had petitioned the court for 50 tmc ft of water.

A bench of Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and Justices A.M. Kanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud observed that the two states must maintain harmony on the issue.

When there is a deficit in the release of water, some effort must be made by Karnataka so that Tamil Nadu can survive as an entity, the SC further observed.

"You cannot say you are not bothered about the tribunal's decision. How can you get away from what the tribunal has said", the court said, ostensibly in response to comments made a few days ago by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Tamil Nadu had moved the Supreme Court stating that it had received less water than it was supposed to. Karnataka, however, argued that it could not release any more water as it was facing a crisis of drinking water itself in the Cauvery basin.

Tamil Nadu, however, maintained that water ought to be released as per the decision of the tribunal.

Following the observations made by the SC, Karnataka will now have to take a call on how much water it can release.

A member of the Karnataka legal team told OneIndia that they would speak with the Karnataka government before making a submission on Monday.